2010 (with an exclamation point)

Happy New Year! We have officially stepped into the next decade! Before I start from the zero in 2010, I celebrated the last night of 2009 with my loved ones - had a sinfully scrumptious dinner at home with my lovely family, exchanged x'mas presents (finally!), clinked champagne glasses countless number of times, and then danced the night away in the accompaniment of my friends. My Boxing Day might have come later this year, but considering all the wonderful gifts I received, it was worth the wait.

Here I'm wearing a gold mesh and crystal bib necklace by Colette Malouf from my sister which I absolutely loveeeeeeee (thanks sis! you know me best really). I am a little embarrassed that I hadn't known about this accessory designer prior to this, but now that I do there goes another window shopping website for me. I love the organic aesthetic of her pieces, kinda like an edgy elegance style. The "styles" section of her website provides some useful how-to tips with illustrations for wearing different hair accessories, so definitely worth checking out.

I was pretty satisfied with my own gift-giving this year as well: I got my dad some Happy Socks, my stylish mom a pair of AE gloves and Shu Uemura x Tsumori Chisato fake eyelashes, my brother a coffee cup-shaped car inverter, my sister a make up pouch and lipstick also from the Shu Uemura x Tsumori Chisato limited edition, and for my brother-in-law I gave him a Paul Smith pocketsquare. I think all of us stepped into the new year feeling merry, typsy, and full of love. And to put a sweet end to the crazy year of 2009, we enjoyed some Marni pour Laduree macaroons (beautifully packaged in this gold box) that my friend bought for me in Tokyo.

snatched my brother's party mask for a Mask of Zorro look
*wearing a jumpsuit by Amarcord, vintage velour jacket by Amarcord Vintage, belt by Patrizia Pepe, necklace by Style Hurricane, and butterfly mask bought in Vietnam

Here's to a new year of happiness, good health, love, and style!
(and to my superb parents who are in the background here)

Collete Malouf images via colletemalouf.com

somewhere over the bridge

My she hit pause. studios Polaroid print finally arrived in the mail today! I love all the prints by photographer Matt Shwartz, but I chose this one titled "white legs + bridge" because of the Brooklyn Bridge in the background. I like how the Bridge is not the main focus of the image, kinda looks like it just happens to be there, and yet you can't mistaken it for anything else. It warms my heart a little to have a piece of Brooklyn imagery close to me. And as a little tribute to my good times in New York, I have compiled a mini list of some of my favorite things/ food/ activities in the sleepless city (also just in time to go with New York Magazine's "Reasons to Love New York" article). *Everything on the list is solely based on my personal experiences and preferences, and so it's purely for the joy of sharing. Feel free to agree or disagree.

Favorite coffee places:
* Gimme! Coffee - all drinks!
* Ninth Street Espresso - iced mocha
* Oslo - soy latte

Favorite brunch dish:
* August - German pancakes
* Locanda Verde - 8-hr tripe with fried eggs
* Ouest - omelette souffle

Favorite sweet & salty marriage:
* Mast Brothers Chocolate - dark chocolate w/ Fleur de Sel
* Kumquat Cupcakery - maple bacon cupcake
* Greene Ice Cream - salted caramel pretzel (tied with Kumquat!)
* Saltie - buckwheat olive shortbread

Favorite Bánh mì sandwich :
* Nha toi - pho bánh mì
* Saigon Bakery - classic roast pork
* Xie Xie - fish chaca la vong

Favorite high-caloric indulgence:
* Fette Sau - any meat on the menu
* Momofuku Milk - Arnold Palmer cake
* Shake Shack - 'shroom burger + flavor of the day frozen custard

Favorite cocktail:
* Dutch Kills - Pimm's fruit cup
* Mahayeul - all margaritas
* Raines Law Room - a bonus point for the decor

Favorite vintage places:
* Amarcord - okay this is a little biased, but the buyers really have a great eye
* Brooklyn Flea - thrifting and great deals
* Narnia - a cool mix of high and low end vintage

Favorite jewelry finds:
* Brooklyn Flea - vintage at reasonable prices
* Catbird - for something different
* Doyle & Doyle - antique jewelry and delicate gems

Favorite shopping streets (plus neighboring blocks):
* N. 6th Street, Williamsburg
* Lafayette (between Howard and Bond), Soho/ Nolita
* Orchard Street, LES

Favorite weekend activity:
* Brooklyn Flea - yummy local eats and vintage hunting
* Brooklyn Bowl - awesome hang out place
* Union Pool - drunk photobooth session


Image via she hit pause.studios

where the wild things are

In theaters soon is the movie Where The Wild Things Are, an adaptation of Maurice Sendak's classic children's book, directed by Spike Jonze. I really hope this won't be another children's fiction projected on big screen with lots of unconvincing CG effects type of movie. With Spike Jonze as the director, we could at least expect some cool movie collabs and promos regardless, like this charm bracelet designed exclusively for the movie (shown above) by jewelry designer Pamela Love, whose own collections revolve heavily around animals, skulls, claws, and other "wild things".

Inside all of us, there is a wild thing... somewhere.

Images via Vogue Nippon Sept'06 issue

fringe madness

Fringes have been making its rounds for several seasons now, and seems like they are still going strong come fall. So on my search for the perfect fringe accessory, I turned to etsy, and within a couple of searches, I've already found many great jewelry pieces to choose from. Here're my favs:

Clockwise from top left: Cleopatra fringe necklace by wontonlove; fringe earrings by iheartnorwegianwood; dip-dyed fringe necklace by threehorses; fringe zipper necklace by DailyJumpsuit

My heart is leaning towards DailyJumpsuit's fringe zipper necklace - love the color (yea, it's so "me") and the zipper element. What's your favorite?

come dance with me

Current obsession: dainty little ballet-shoes jewelry by Japanese brand au lait.
The miniature Repetto-look-a-like flats are super-duper adorable, and they may even give you special power to dance like Ginger Rogers once you pile them! Especially loving the 2-finger ring where each shoe sits blissfully on each finger - oh so cute!

soft rock

I don't wear a lot of crochet.
Perhaps because I've never really given it a chance. I've always had this preconception that crochet = soft and girly, which is not exactly part of my wardrobe vocabulary. But lately there's been a quiet "revolution" in the world of crochet accessories, where designers are reinterpreting the softness often associated with this technique and mixing it with metal materials to create an edgier, tougher look. It's sort of like a boy-meets-girl effect. Here are some cool ones that I came across (and the best part is they're all under $100!), any other good suggestions for the summer?


Clockwise from top left: langoliers breastplate necklace from Oak; Dreamers by Daydream Nation crochet chain necklace from Urban Outfitters; galit hand crochet ring in oxidized sterling silver from etsy; A.S.I.S. second chance chain necklace

art for love

The first time I saw Alexander Calder's jewelry was at the Elise Øverland Fall 09 fashion show (I didn't even know he had a jewelry line before then!), where the designer borrowed the late artist's sculptural gold necklaces and crowns from his grandson (and her friend) to complete her downtown-glam looks. Unfortunately the jewelry seemed to have outshine the clothes, but who wouldn't be staring at those over-sized, organic necklaces! Now Club Monaco, like me, has also fallen in love with Calder's work (his artwork or his jewelry, well I can't speak for them), and is set to release twelve necklaces - all Alexander Calder inspired - for fall. These bold, statement-making pieces are absolutely fab and will easily transform any outfit into a stunning look. They will be in stores in July and August, so mark your calendars (I'm marking mine)!




Images: style.com, refinery29

trifari hunting

Like many flea market goers, one of my major hunts when I'm at one is vintage costume jewelry. I love the thrill of rummaging through trays of baubles and finding that hidden 1940's cocktail ring or that 1980's owl necklace that screams my name. If you're lucky, you may even find some true gems at a bargain price. Last weekend, at a visit to my fav Brooklyn Flea (it's moved to Dumbo for the winter until the Fort Greene location reopens in April), I scored an amazing silver cuff bracelet by Trafari that sports a crossover between the graphic jewelry this season and the bangle trend coming up for spring.
The story of Trifari began in the late 1910's, but it wasn't until the 1930's when jewelry designer Andrew Phillipe joined the company that it began flourishing as a major costume jeweler. Costume jewelry became widely popularized thanks to Madame Coco Chanel, and also due to the shortage of materials during WWII. Trifari made its celebrity fame after First Lady Mamie Eisenhower wore its triple-strand pearl necklace at the Presidential Inauguration in 1952. The company continued to deliver bold and exotic jewelry designs throughout the following decades, but the Trifari legacy finally came to an end in 2000.


Image backdrop: Madonna in W Magazine Issue March 09

New York Fashion Week: Day 2

The New Rock Chick on the Block: Elise Øverland



Watch out A. Wang devotees: Elise Øverland is about to take on the downtown rocker chick scene. Her collection has all the essential elements: shiny leather, exposed zippers, metallic hues, skinny pants, and the best accessories to go with: gold jewelry from Alexander Calder lent to the designer by her friend and Calder's grandson, Alexander Rower.


Biggest Transformation: Alexander Wang



The girls sporting Alexander Wang's clothing this season have all grown up -- along with the brand itself. More feminine silhouettes, richer and luxurious fabrics, stronger shapes, and dangerously skin-tight dresses - all exude effortless sexiness, which is precisely what Wang's fans love his clothes for. Heavy influences from 80's Mugler and Ferre run throughout the collection, lending it a touch of sophistication compared to his past seasons.


Best Investment Piece: United Bamboo



I usually love United Bamboo for its fun take on schoolgirl uniform shapes - whether it be ruffled blouses or appliqued wool dresses or newsboy pants - but this season, my eyes are drawn to their outerwear pieces. Architectural coat, double-breasted blazer with fur collar, military jacket with exposed lining -- these are all stand-out pieces from the collection that are equally classic and timeless that's worth investing your money in next fall.


Images: style.com

be mine

Giles & Brother has finally launched its online store, and the most exciting part is... you can now customize your favorite cuffs and rings with the website's personalized stamping service!
The stamping has a certain handcrafted aesthetic to it that is in sync with the brand's vintage style, making it the perfect one-of-a-kind gift for your special someone.

I'm especially in love with the Pied-de-Biche single-hoof ring (in sterling silver) -- love that quirky hoof resting above my finger!!